Sandy has suggested someone develop a FAQ type document of common terms and abbreviations. I would love for someone to help me at this effort. How about we use this thread as a wiki - each person can contribute terms and definitions. I will compile them into a FAQ for people on either the help bar and or on the COPD Support Forum.

Here is a copy of what we send the new folks on the list. If you want to use this on the Forum, go ahead and there are links to more.

Carolyn-Mi

<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<ABG Arterial Blood Gasses. This is a blood test that is given to determine a number of things but it is the only test that is commonly used to determine the Carbon Dioxide content of the blood. The test is usually taken with a needle into the wrist area and much more difficult to do. Consequently, it has the reputation for hurting. Doctors use this test to determine whether an individual is a retainer or not.<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<ALPHA-A1AD Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD) is a genetic disease of the liver and lungs. It results from a lack of the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) protein in a person's blood, which protects the lungs from germs, dust, air pollution, cigarette smoke and other inhaled irritants. Without an adequate supply of AAT, substances in the white blood cells can damage the tissues of the body. In adults, A1AD often leads to early onset emphysema that affects the lower lobes of the lung but can also cause liver disease. Because A1AD is a product of genetics, those that are diagnosed with emphysema or COPD at an early age should have a simple blood test to determine if that is the cause of their affliction. If so, some of the medical procedures are different in dealing with the affliction.<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<BIPAP, CPAP, DPAP - P.A.P." stands for positive airway pressure The importance of these machines is not only that they assist in the physical needs for breathing but also help remove excess CO2 from the system.BiPAP stands for BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure. Your BiPAP machine provides 2 sets of pressure prescribed by your physician. There is a pressure set to assist you when breathing in (inspiration) and when breathing out (exhalation). These pressures keep the airway from collapsing so your lungs will receive the oxygen they need.BiPAP ST works the same as BiPAP, but also has a backup respiratory rate incorporated. This means that the machine also supplies the patient with forced breaths.CPAP machine supplies a set amount of positive pressurized flow through a hose connected to the nasal airway. The set pressure is prescribed by your physician. The ressure keeps the airway from collapsing. Relief of airway obstruction is immediate. Your lungs will receive the oxygen they need and you will sleep much better.DPAP stands for Demand Positive Airway Pressure. This machine will sense whether or not the patient is taking a breath. If the patient has not taken a breath in 8 seconds, the DPAP machine will sense this and give a breath at whatever pressure flow is necessary to move the air into the lungs. Indication for DPAP usage is intolerable use of CPAP.<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<CHF Congestive Heart Failure. Simply stated, CHF is any condition which refers to the diminished ability of the heart to carry out its function properly. There are many causes and many diseases which cause the condition which is much more prevalent with older folks. Some individuals with COPD find themselves afflicted with conditions which make them susceptible to CHF.<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is why we are all here. While some medical authorities do not include asthma in the definition, it is included in others and helps add to the confusion of the lay person. COPD is actually a loosely used term by the medics these days to describe a variety of ailments including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and some forms of asthma. It is considered as chronic and progressive which gives it the awful reputation of being the beginning of the end. Those of us who know better realize that while there is no known cure at the present time, such a cure is not out of the realm of possibility. In the meantime, it is prudent to do those things that we can do to maintain as high a quality of life as is possible. We can do that only through being proactive in our own medical care working in concert with our medical advisors, stopping smoking, exercise (preferably in some pulmonary rehab program and subsequent maintenance program) and a number of lesser things.. If you are interested in learning more about our disease, look at our links page for the best of the best at

and a listing of web pages maintained by a number of our subscribers at

<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<CRS (Can't Remember Stuff - or any other word beginning with S_____)<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<FEV1 - FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume after 1 second) is one of many measurements that are determined during a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) The official definition says that it is the volume of air exhaled after one second from the beginning of the measurement. It is expressed in a full number which is then given a percentage based on how well a normal person of similar age, sex and weight would do. It is normally taken a second time after using a rescue inhaler like albuterol to see what percentage of increase is obtained with medication. In common usage, while not totally accurate, it has become to be a measure of lung function percentage. For that reason you will see folks that say they have 46% lung function or 13% lung function. While those numbers are certainly important, they do not tell the whole picture because this is just one measurement. In addition, two people with the exact same FEV1 may behave very differently. One may not be able to walk to the bathroom without assistance and the other reporting rave results from pulmonary rehab. There are a number of references that discuss the PFT. A good starting point would be

<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<HEPA-(High Efficiency Particulate Air) Usually refers to a filters or masks for air filtering systems, air conditioner returns, air circulation systems, face masks and the sort. t is of a much higher rating for filtration than other systems and consequently filters the air better.<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) Says what it means. I recognize that this may not be the school solution but I believe that & Often used by the polite to tell others that they don't know what they are talking about LOL<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<LOL (Lots of Laughs or Lots of Love depending on context used)<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<LVRS (Lung Volume Reduction Surgery) Surgery which removes part of the lungor lungs. This concept uses the theory that the reduction of the lung allows room for the good portion to expand and work more efficiently. This is a major surgical procedure which has resulted in dramatic improvement for some and a reduction in lung function in others. It is presently being studied to determine the appropriate criteria for selection as well as evaluating improvement from pulmonary exercise as compared to LVRS. This study called NETT or National Emphysema Treatment Trials is explained in detail and provides locations for the centers at

<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~<~>MDI (Measured Dose Inhaler) There are many varieties and brands. This is just a generic description for all of them.<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~><~>O2 (Oxygen) Auxiliary oxygen use usually expressed as Number of Liters Per Minute/hours per day/days per week. For example 2L 24/7.<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~><~>PCP (Primary Care Physician) Usually a physician who practices in general medicine or family medicine. In HMO language, the PCP is the doctor that is responsible for the patients care and appropriate referrals.<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~<~>PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) A vital test for all who are afflicted with any pulmonary disease as it is the real measure of the lung function and a diagnostic tool to determine the proper course of medication. The test takes about an hour but is non invasive primarily just breathing in a variety of tubes in different ways. The test results include Pulmonary Mechanics (one of which is FEV1 which was described above), Lung Volume, Diffusing capacity and other measurements including ABG, PH, PaCO2, PaO2, and SaO2 which is a lot of gibberish which means you should check out one of the references on PFT if you want to know more. A good place to start is

<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~><~>SATS (Saturation Level as determined by oximeter) Sometimes also called Stats. Refers to the oxygen level which should remain above 90 when measured by oximeter or 55-60 mm Hg when measured by arterial blood gas test of PaO2. Yep, that is the thingy that they put on your finger = oximeter.<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~><~>SOB (Short of Breath) Do we need to say more?<~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>~<~><~>Of course there are a great many other abbreviations and acronyms used concerning our affliction. In the event you are looking for another which is not listed here try

That's what I'm talking about. Penny's is great as a quick reference when you're reading the posts as a newcomer. Dave..yours is great for a really detailed explanation. When I first came on I didn't even know what "SOB" was, so Penny you may want to add that one on your quick ref for acronyms. Sandy

Dave -- When Jackie (Blossom) returns, she is away for now, we have to ask her for the cross-reference list of COPD drugs that she created. That would be a good addition the the FAQ section. She has it posted on her site http://www.copdcanada.ca/ and I am sure she would not mind if you picked it up for here. -- Vic

Vic's suggestion is great. I use that sheet so many times. I have a hard copy.

Here are two more links you can use or not. This link is coming up with definitions but click on the 'A'where it says "Abbreviations & Acronyms" and it will take you right down the list. I have always liked this one. Actually I like the whole website.http://noairtogo.tripod.com/gloss.htm#A

Dave: I looked and it's excellent. It looks so professional and official, like the work of a high paid webmaster. And you did it in such a short time. I'm amazed and thank you for your fine work and also Penny and Carolyn. I will constantly refer to it. I see great things happening for this website as the design, content, easy navigation and credibility is heads above some of the other ones that I have seen. When I look at a website that seems to have been designed by a two year old I don't quite trust the information provided. I also am grateful to the moderators of this forum because it just seems to have a tone and vibe to it that makes one comfortable. I can't even go to the Intl forum any longer because it makes me cringe with the insults, anger and intolerance that flies back and forth on a regular basis. Thank you once again for all your hard work and for saving my life. Thank you, Sandy

Wait - there is a new version in the works. I am working with the designers on testing. It will be even nicer to look at. Just FYI, I have done web design for a while, and it is a sideline of my business. I use top tools. I really need to change my web portal web site http://lungs.portalone.us - it has kind of grown out of control. Needs a tune up.

Dave; I am not sure if you are talking about 'your' page or this forum here. If it is this forum, Penny, let him try. This is still not as smooth to get around as the others I go to. This seems like a really good setup but not real friendly to move around in yet. There are things I like but I don't like coming in and checking what I have and have not read. I am patient.